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John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — After holding out the first four days, Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin arrived at training camp Sunday without a new deal and was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury.
Coach Dan Quinn said McLaurin will work off to the side with trainers, and it’s uncertain whether the veteran will participate in practice once he has recovered. He is seeking a contract extension with one year left on his current deal.
“On the business side, [GM Adam Peters] and the guys are still working hard with Terry and his reps,” Quinn said. “While on PUP, it’s just like we do with other guys — work with the trainers to get back as soon as he can.”
McLaurin was fined $200,000 ($50,000 per day) for missing the start of training camp.
The two sides remain apart on a contract and will continue discussions, but there hasn’t been much movement towards a new deal, sources said.
McLaurin made his first appearance after practice ended, stopping to talk to run game coordinator Anthony Lynn and greeting linebacker Bobby Wagner. As McLaurin hustled down to the field to meet with his agent, Buddy Baker, fans chanted his name. McLaurin later signed autographs for nearly 30 minutes.
“It feels good to be around my teammates and around the fans,” McLaurin said. “I can’t beat that at all. They showed me a lot of love and support. You lose sight of some things when the business gets involved, but I never lost sight of the way they supported me. It’s business, but it has nothing to do with them.”
McLaurin was in the facility, in part to get treatment on his ankle. He said it wasn’t easy being there and not participating.
“It’s tough, but it’s the business right now,” he said. “Just trying to take things day by day.”
Quinn said he met Saturday night with McLaurin, who was dealing with an injury to the same ankle at the end of last season.
“It was great,” Quinn said. “I’m really pumped that he’s here.”
The Commanders opened training camp Wednesday. Sunday is the first day fans can attend practices.
“It’s good to see him anytime he’s in the building,” receiver Deebo Samuel said. “Hopefully we can get him out here [soon].”
McLaurin said earlier this month that he would not step on the field without “progression” toward a new contract. His reporting does not necessarily mean there has been progress considering he’s not expected to participate.
“It’s the nature of our business,” Peters said on the first day of camp. “You’d like to get these things done quicker, but it doesn’t always happen that way. … You’re dealing with a really good player and really good person, and you never lose sight of that and make sure every conversation you have is very straightforward and in good faith and keeping that mindset throughout … understanding our goal is to get a deal done.
“Whatever happens along the way, just understand he’s a great player and we want to keep him here.”
McLaurin has not publicly stated what sort of contract he is looking for, but he said last week that “with how the market is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of.”
Several notable wide receivers signed long-term deals this offseason, including the Bengals’ Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million with $40.9 million guaranteed), the Steelers’ DK Metcalf (four years, $132 million, $60 million guaranteed) and the Jets’ Garrett Wilson (four years, $130 million, $90 million guaranteed).
McLaurin turns 30 in September, an age at which teams might expect a receiver to start to fade. He pointed out last week that he has been in the NFL for only seven seasons, did not play much his first two seasons at Ohio State and didn’t want to be judged by what others did in the past.
McLaurin said he wanted them to view it on a “case-by-case” basis.
Two older high-end receivers signed extensions last year: At age 30, Miami’s Tyreek Hill signed a three-year extension for $30 million per year with $52.535 million guaranteed. At 31, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans signed for two years and $41 million with $35 million guaranteed.
McLaurin has been Washington’s top receiver since entering the NFL as a third-round pick in 2019. He has surpassed 1,000 yards each of the past five seasons and caught 13 touchdown passes in 2024 — second most in the NFL.
He is also considered a team leader — voted by teammates as a captain during the postseason last year (they rotated captains during the regular season) — and a fan favorite.
“Without a doubt, everybody in this building values Terry very much,” Peters said.
